It was a tie the Farmer’s Boys would have been expecting to win with Girvan struggling at the bottom of the Ayrshire District League — but Whiteford was pleased his side avoided a cup upset.

He said: “I thought it was a very good, thoroughly professional performance. Although people might have expected us to win it’s a potential banana skin.

“Girvan have a lot of young players and are a decent side, I was impressed with their fight — they went until the end even at 3-0 down.” With the draw for the Scottish Cup taking place next week, Whiteford is confident his side can compete with the bigger teams in the draw — but concedes a home tie against a smaller team would be preferable to give Neilston the best chance of going on a decent cup run.

He said: “I think at this stage a home tie would be nice, the supporters might kill me for saying that because I know they like their away days.”